Chapter 12 - THE TRUST
The hidden trust changed everything.
Sarah located the original legal documents.
Emma's father had created the trust six months before his death.
Its value was nearly forty million dollars.
But there was a condition.
Emma could access it only after turning thirty-five.
She was thirty-two.
That meant someone had spent years waiting.
Daniel had known about it.
Thomas had known.
Richard had known.
And perhaps that explained why Emma had been targeted.
Sarah studied the paperwork.
"Your father anticipated this."
Emma nodded.
"He knew they would come after me."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't he tell Mom?"
"He probably did."
Margaret entered the room.
"I knew about the trust."
Emma looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wanted you to live a normal life."
Emma smiled sadly.
"There was never going to be a normal life, was there?"
Margaret shook her head.
"No."
Then a knock sounded.
Everyone froze.
A federal agent entered.
"We found Thomas."
Emma stood.
"Where?"
"An abandoned warehouse."
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
"Did he talk?"
The agent nodded.
"He gave us a name."
"Richard?"
"No."
"Victoria?"
"No."
He looked at Emma.
"Daniel."
Emma's heart stopped.
"What?"
"He claims Daniel organized everything."
Emma shook her head.
"That's impossible."
"Is it?"
The agent placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Daniel meeting Victoria.
Daniel meeting Thomas.
Daniel accessing offshore accounts.
Emma's hands trembled.
"But he was helping us."
"Maybe."
Sarah looked carefully at the dates.
Then she frowned.
"These photographs were altered."
The agent looked surprised.
"Are you sure?"
Sarah pointed to the shadows.
"The lighting doesn't match."
Emma looked closer.
Daniel had been framed before.
Again.
But this time, the forger was better.
Sarah stood.
"We need the original files."
The agent nodded.
"We're working on it."
Emma stared at Daniel's photograph.
She hated that she still wanted to believe him.
But trust had become dangerous.
Then her phone buzzed.
A text message appeared.
From Daniel.
I never betrayed you.
Below it was another message.
Ask your mother what happened the night your father died.
May you like
Emma slowly turned toward Margaret.
Her mother's face had gone pale.
